Quick answer
Do You Need an Apostille for Japan?
If a Japanese employer, school or city office asks for your Singapore document to be apostilled or legalised, the Singapore step is an apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). Japan has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 27 July 1970, so a Singapore document apostille for Japan takes the place of embassy legalisation. Confirm with the receiving authority in Japan — we confirm the steps for your document before you pay.
SAL is the only competent authority that legalises Singapore documents for use overseas, and since 16 September 2021 it places an apostille certificate on every document it legalises. Public documents SAL can verify go straight to SAL; private documents and company documents need a Notary Public first.
Not sure what your Japanese checklist is asking for? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we'll go through it with you.
Why Singapore Documents for Japan Get Held Up
"Apostille or Japanese embassy?"
Japan is a Hague member, so the SAL apostille is the step that replaces embassy legalisation. If your checklist says something different, show it to us and we confirm the route before anything is paid.
No Japanese translation planned
SAL does not translate documents, and a Japanese translation may be requested by the office receiving your papers. Confirm this early — if it's needed, we handle translation and apostille in one order.
Laminated originals
SAL cannot apostille a laminated document. We arrange a fresh extract from the issuing agency, or an apostille on an SAL-made copy if the Japanese office accepts copies.
Private documents sent straight to SAL
Powers of attorney, company papers and private or international school certificates need notarisation first — see notarisation and apostille.
Digital documents with a QR code that won't scan
The printout must match the online version exactly and the QR code must work. We print, test and check before we go.
Our Japan Apostille Service in Singapore
Document pre-check
we confirm SAL can verify your document before anything is paid to SAL
Notarisation when required
by a Notary Public, for POAs, company documents and certified true copies
SAL submission and collection
we queue at the SAL legalisation counter (The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street) for you; SAL accepts a proxy
Japanese translation
added only when your Japanese employer, school or city office asks for it
Pickup and delivery
anywhere in Singapore
Apostille for Japan — Price in Singapore
| Package | Best for | Our fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Apostille | Singapore government documents SAL can verify — birth and marriage certificates, NUS/NTU degrees, MOE certificates | From SGD 35 | 1–2 working days |
| Notarise + Apostille | POAs, company documents, private school certificates, certified true copy of passport | From SGD 229 | 1–2 working days |
| Apostille + Japanese Translation | When the receiving office in Japan asks for a Japanese translation | From SGD 35 + translation from SGD 39/page | 2–4 working days |
The prices shown above are starting prices. Your final price depends on the document type, number of pages and destination country, and will be confirmed in a written quotation before any work begins.
Government fees (set by SAL, passed on at cost): apostille SGD 10.70 per document · apostille on an SAL-made copy SGD 11.77 · SAL authentication of a notarised document SGD 87.20 (paid at the notary) · notarial certificate SGD 75 (+SGD 20 per extra party) · signature witnessing SGD 40.
How to Apostille Singapore Documents for Japan — 4 Steps
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1
Send a photo
of your document and your Japanese checklist on WhatsApp.
-
2
Get the exact steps and an all-in price
including whether translation is needed — before you pay anything.
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3
We pre-check, notarise if needed, and take it to SAL.
-
4
Collect it, or we deliver it
anywhere in Singapore, ready to send to Japan.
What to Send or Bring
- The original document — not laminated — or, for digital documents, the file and its QR code or verification link
- Your NRIC or passport (needed if the document is notarised)
- The checklist or email from the Japanese employer, school, city office or visa agent
- Whether a Japanese translation is requested, and how many apostilled copies you need
Documents We Apostille for Japan
- Degree certificate apostille — for work and study in Japan; NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT, SUSS, SUTD, polytechnic, ITE and NIEC certificates go to SAL directly
- School certificate apostille — MOE certificates and transcripts for Japanese schools
- Birth certificate apostille and marriage certificate apostille — for marriage registration and family matters in Japan
- Divorce certificate apostille — when a previous marriage has to be shown as ended
- Police certificate apostille — if your Japanese checklist asks for one
- ACRA bizfile apostille and power of attorney — for company and business matters
- Passport copy notarisation — a certified true copy of your passport
- Employment letter apostille — notarised and apostilled when a Japanese employer or visa agent asks for proof of work history
Documents going to more than one country? See apostille for South Korea, apostille for Australia, apostille for the UK and apostille for the USA.
Why Singapore Residents Choose Us for Japan
We check before SAL does
if a document has an issue that would cause a wasted trip, we can flag it from a photo before SAL sees it.
Translation and apostille together
one order when your Japanese office asks for a translation.
Clear pricing
our fee and SAL's legalisation fee listed separately, total agreed upfront.
One contact for every step
notary, SAL, translation and delivery.
Samples of what you get back
In the order the documents are prepared — tap any sample to enlarge it.
Tap to enlarge
Tap to enlargeWatermarked illustrations with fictitious details. Your real documents stay private.
What our clients say
4.9/5 from 18,000+ reviews
on WhatsApp, Google and Trustpilot
“Needed my degree certificate and transcript apostilled for an overseas job application. They checked the documents first and confirmed the process before starting. The final documents were returned neatly and within the agreed timeframe.”
“Needed my birth certificate apostilled for use in India. I wasn't sure whether I needed to get anything notarised first, so I messaged them on WhatsApp. They explained the steps clearly and handled everything without any confusion.”
“My marriage certificate needed attestation for the UAE. I contacted them through WhatsApp because I had a few questions about the embassy requirements. The replies were quick and everything was explained in simple terms.”
“Needed a police certificate apostilled quite urgently for an overseas application. I asked about the same-day option and they confirmed the timing before I went ahead. Really appreciated the clear communication.”
“I needed several personal documents apostilled and didn't have time to arrange everything myself. The team explained the process and kept me updated until the documents were ready. Very convenient service.”
“My degree certificate needed legalisation for Indonesia. I was mainly worried about whether additional certification was required before the apostille. They checked the document and explained the correct process before proceeding.”
“I needed a single status certificate legalised for an overseas application. I had quite a few questions because it was my first time doing this. They were patient with the explanations and gave me a clear idea of the process.”
“I needed a certified true copy before proceeding with the legalisation of my documents. The appointment was straightforward and they explained what was being certified before completing the process. Very efficient service.”
“I booked a mobile notary because travelling to an office wasn't convenient for me. The appointment was arranged around my availability and everything was handled professionally. It saved me quite a bit of time.”
“My Malaysian documents needed to be legalised and I wasn't familiar with the Singapore procedure. They explained the difference between the steps clearly and checked the documents before proceeding. Very straightforward experience.”
“I needed my divorce certificate legalised for use abroad. I already had the original document but wasn't sure what authentication was required next. They explained the process step by step and made it much easier to understand.”
“I needed my A-Level certificate apostilled before sending it to a university overseas. The price and turnaround were explained before I confirmed the service. Everything was straightforward and I received the completed document as expected.”
“I needed an urgent apostille and had a fairly tight deadline. Before taking the order, they checked my document and confirmed whether the requested turnaround was possible. I appreciated the honest explanation about the timing.”
“I needed both translation and apostille for an overseas application. I initially thought I would have to arrange the two services separately. They explained the order of the steps and made the whole process much simpler.”
“I needed company documents legalised for use in China. There were several documents involved and I wasn't familiar with the process. They explained what needed to be done at each stage and kept me updated throughout.”
“I had a power of attorney that needed notarisation before it could be used overseas. I wasn't familiar with the procedure, so their explanation over WhatsApp was really helpful. Everything was handled in the order they explained.”
“My documents had already been notarised but still needed authentication. I wasn't sure what the next step was, so I sent them a copy through WhatsApp. They checked everything and explained what was still required.”
“I needed my documents apostilled for the Philippines and had no idea where to start. They explained the process clearly and confirmed what I needed before taking the documents. The whole experience was much easier than I expected.”
“I needed several documents attested for Qatar and wasn't familiar with the embassy process. They went through the documents with me and explained which steps were required. Communication was clear from beginning to end.”
“My father's death certificate needed to be legalised for use overseas. It was a sensitive family matter, so I appreciated how professionally the documents were handled. The process was explained clearly and there was no unnecessary back and forth.”
“I had several company documents that needed to be prepared for use overseas. They checked the paperwork before starting and explained what needed to be completed first. The documents were handled professionally and returned as agreed.”
“I needed my documents attested for Kuwait and wasn't sure which certificates needed to be included. The team went through everything with me before I started. The process was organised and I always knew what stage the documents were at.”
“I needed my power of attorney notarised for an overseas property transaction. They explained what I needed to prepare beforehand, which made the appointment much easier. The document was handled carefully and professionally.”
“My O-Level certificates needed apostilling for an overseas education application. I wasn't sure whether the older certificates could still be processed, so I sent them over for checking first. They confirmed what was needed and handled the rest.”
“I had documents from Vietnam that needed to be legalised for use in Singapore. I wasn't sure about the terminology and kept confusing attestation with legalisation. They explained the difference clearly and told me what stage my documents needed.”
Apostille for Japan — FAQs
Does Japan accept an apostille on Singapore documents?
Do I still need the Japanese embassy in Singapore after the SAL apostille?
Do I need a Japanese translation of my Singapore documents?
How do I apostille my Singapore degree for a job in Japan?
Can I apostille my marriage certificate for marriage registration in Japan?
How much does an apostille for Japan cost in Singapore?
Can SAL apostille a document issued in Japan?
Are you the Singapore Academy of Law?
Get Your Singapore Documents Ready for Japan
Send a photo and your Japanese checklist on WhatsApp — we'll reply with the exact steps and an all-in price.
Mon–Fri 9 am – 9 pm · Sat–Sun 10 am – 6 pm 7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987